“” is the first line of a verse:
>
>
>
>
This is from the introduction to , usually translated as _The Gateless Barrier_ or _The Gateless Gate_ , a collection of kōans by Zen master Wúmén Huìkāi (), published in 1228. (He is perhaps better known in the West under the Japanese version of his name, Mumon Ekai.) In Robert Aitken’s translation:
> The Great Way has no gate;
> there are a thousand different paths;
> once you pass through this barrier,
> you walk the universe alone.
“” contains a pun: the author’s name Wúmén is written with the same characters () as “no gate” so the line can be understood as “Wúmén’s Great Way” as well as “the great way has no gate”.
“” (daidō mumon) is the Japanese pronunication of “” (dàdào wú mén).
Hideyuki Fujisawa () was a professional Go player also known for his calligraphy: presumably the writing on the fan is his work.